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Reds bring in Tinsley as assistant hitting coach

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By Mark Sheldon
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MLB.com |

CINCINNATI -- The Reds have hired Lee Tinsley to be their new assistant hitting coach, general manager Walt Jocketty revealed on Thursday.

Tinsley, who will assist new hitting coach Don Long, was previously the Cubs' Minor League baserunning and outfield coordinator. This coming season, the 44-year-old was slated to be the manager in Ogden, Utah, for the Dodgers' Rookie-level Pioneer League affiliate.

"He was the No. 1 pick in Oakland [in 1987] when I was there," Jocketty said. "Bryan [Price, the Reds' manager] worked with him in Arizona. He's a great guy. He'll help with hitting, and he'll help [coach Billy] Hatcher with the outfield and baserunning stuff."

In a five-year Major League career from 1993-97, Tinsley played for the Mariners, Red Sox and Phillies. In Cincinnati, he replaces Ronnie Ortegon, who took Long's former job as the Braves' Minor League hitting coordinator.

The Reds also promoted Sean Marohn to strength and conditioning coordinator after he did the same job in the Minor Leagues for the organization the past 10 years. Marohn replaced Matt Krause, who left in December to join the Yankees.

Marohn recently returned from a trip to the Dominican Republic, where he observed some workouts for pitcher Johnny Cueto. The rotation's ace, Cueto battled a strained right lat muscle much of last season and was limited to 11 starts.

"[Marohn] said he looked great, felt good," Jocketty said.

Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Mark My Word, and follow him on Twitter @m_sheldon. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.